Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

 

Myth says that Fiji's story begins about 1500 BC with a voyage of giant war canoes from Taganika north of Egypt. Leading the armada on the giant double hull canoe "Kaunitoni" was warrior Chief Lutunasobasoba with a special cargo - a magical box called the Katonimana (the Box of Blessings). Around Matamanoa, Mana and Likuliku, they met bad weather and the “Box of Blessings” slipped into the water. Lutunasobasoba gave orders to let it go, believing it was the will of the gods.

Lutunasobasoba then named the 3 Islands Mata-manoa (meaning "eye of the strong wind"), Mana ("Magic') to mark the area where the Box of Blessings fell, and 'Likuliku' because it was here the armada experienced calm waters again. Lutunasobasoba gave specific instructions that no one was to ever try and retrieve the "Katonimana" and predicted that this group of islands would be a great source of prosperity for the Fijian people in the future. To this day, some believe that this box is still buried